A blog about a photographer mom and wannabe neuroscientist dad raising 24-week and 29-week preemies in the city of Boston. Let the shenanigans and zaniness ensue!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Day 9 - Leaving the Isolette Pt. 1
This photo had Kelly and I cracking up! You can almost hear Brooklyn saying, "Watch the hat! WATCH THE HAT!!!"
haha! wow, she knows her priorities already. smart cookie and a girl after my own heart. did i tell you lately how amazing she and you guys are? no? well it's true!
Hello! I just wanted to say congrats to you both on your beautiful Brooklyn! I will continue to pray that her health improves and she is able to go home soon. My younger sister was also born a premie at 3 lbs 3 1/2 ozs. Today she is a very happy and healthy 17 year old! I'm looking to hearing more about Brooklyn's journey.
Congratulations! You just gave birth to an over achiever! ;) I work at The MathWorks with Luke Stark. He shared your story and asked if anyone had any preemie experience they could share. I do. Both of my girls, Hannah and Emma, were preemies. The circumstances of Hannah's birth sounds very similar to Brooklyn's. Hannah was born at 28 weeks at 2 lbs 10 ounces. She spent 10 weeks in the NICU at Brigham and Womens in Boston. It was a bumpy ride with high highs and scary lows. I can't remember the number of scares and difficult conversations we had, the number of hours we spent pacing waiting for the next scan/test result, the number of nights we spent worrying about her or how long it took us to get used to all of the beeps, alarms and lights. I can remember the first time she kangarooed on my chest under a heated blanket, the joy we felt with each forward step she made, the day she graduated out of the isolette and into the "serving tray", the compassion and dedication of the nursing staff, her first bath and the moment it was decided she could come home. We came away from the experience with an incredible respect for nurses (especially NICU nurses), a better appreciation for our capacity to deal with impossible situations, and a wonderful, fully adjusted, caught up healthy daughter (2 times). Emma was born at 32 weeks and just under 5 pounds. She had a blissfully uneventful tour of the NICU for two weeks. We think she just did it because her sister did. :)
Hannah is now 7 and is in second grade. She is reading and doing Math at a 4th grade level and is in the top percentile for height and weight. Emma is 6 and is in first grade and is similarly kicking butt. There is nothing about them that indicates how they started off their lives (except for the gray hair they gave, and continue to give me).
I know we don't know each other. But if there is anything I can do, question I can answer please do not hesitate to let me know. Luke knows how to get in touch with me.
Sean and Kelly, Congratulations on your beautiful blessing. The hat's great, but she needs to let them know she needs a little bling! When the only thing else a girl gets to wear is a diaper that's too big rhinestones on the hat would make you start to sing "I feel pretty"! Then before you know it she'll be whining "where's my other Jimmy Choo?!" Little girls are the best!Everyone here in chilly Florida sends our love and prayers to all of you. Your favorite Aunt Kim
Soooo very cute! I have days at work like that. No seriously...I'm sitting at my desk, naked in my pink hat and people come in, knock off my hat, pick me up off my chair and shuffle all my stuff around. So frustrating!
HI Kelly and Sean, Casey just told me about Brooklyn and gave me this link...so touching. Congratulations. It seems like she's a real fighter. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad you have this blog so we can get updates. Hang in there. Love to you. The Belmontes
Kelly and Sean I've been keeping up with your blog entries. Let me tell you the entries have left me w/ tears every time I read one... Sooo happy to hear of the positive progress Brooklyn has made. The two of you show so much strength and love as only a parent would know... My thoughts and prayers are with you... Love Kelly's cousin Tara
Love it - a fashion girl already! =)
ReplyDeleteThat hat rules!
ReplyDeletehaha! wow, she knows her priorities already. smart cookie and a girl after my own heart. did i tell you lately how amazing she and you guys are? no? well it's true!
ReplyDeleteHello! I just wanted to say congrats to you both on your beautiful Brooklyn! I will continue to pray that her health improves and she is able to go home soon. My younger sister was also born a premie at 3 lbs 3 1/2 ozs. Today she is a very happy and healthy 17 year old! I'm looking to hearing more about Brooklyn's journey.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! You just gave birth to an over achiever! ;) I work at The MathWorks with Luke Stark. He shared your story and asked if anyone had any preemie experience they could share. I do. Both of my girls, Hannah and Emma, were preemies. The circumstances of Hannah's birth sounds very similar to Brooklyn's. Hannah was born at 28 weeks at 2 lbs 10 ounces. She spent 10 weeks in the NICU at Brigham and Womens in Boston. It was a bumpy ride with high highs and scary lows. I can't remember the number of scares and difficult conversations we had, the number of hours we spent pacing waiting for the next scan/test result, the number of nights we spent worrying about her or how long it took us to get used to all of the beeps, alarms and lights. I can remember the first time she kangarooed on my chest under a heated blanket, the joy we felt with each forward step she made, the day she graduated out of the isolette and into the "serving tray", the compassion and dedication of the nursing staff, her first bath and the moment it was decided she could come home. We came away from the experience with an incredible respect for nurses (especially NICU nurses), a better appreciation for our capacity to deal with impossible situations, and a wonderful, fully adjusted, caught up healthy daughter (2 times). Emma was born at 32 weeks and just under 5 pounds. She had a blissfully uneventful tour of the NICU for two weeks. We think she just did it because her sister did. :)
ReplyDeleteHannah is now 7 and is in second grade. She is reading and doing Math at a 4th grade level and is in the top percentile for height and weight. Emma is 6 and is in first grade and is similarly kicking butt. There is nothing about them that indicates how they started off their lives (except for the gray hair they gave, and continue to give me).
I know we don't know each other. But if there is anything I can do, question I can answer please do not hesitate to let me know. Luke knows how to get in touch with me.
Hang in there.
-Matt
Sean and Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your beautiful blessing. The hat's great, but she needs to let them know she needs a little bling! When the only thing else a girl gets to wear is a diaper that's too big rhinestones on the hat would make you start to sing "I feel pretty"! Then before you know it she'll be whining "where's my other Jimmy Choo?!" Little girls are the best!Everyone here in chilly Florida sends our love and prayers to all of you.
Your favorite Aunt Kim
Soooo very cute! I have days at work like that. No seriously...I'm sitting at my desk, naked in my pink hat and people come in, knock off my hat, pick me up off my chair and shuffle all my stuff around. So frustrating!
ReplyDeleteHI Kelly and Sean,
ReplyDeleteCasey just told me about Brooklyn and gave me this link...so touching. Congratulations. It seems like she's a real fighter. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad you have this blog so we can get updates. Hang in there. Love to you.
The Belmontes
Kelly and Sean I've been keeping up with your blog entries. Let me tell you the entries have left me w/ tears every time I read one... Sooo happy to hear of the positive progress Brooklyn has made. The two of you show so much strength and love as only a parent would know... My thoughts and prayers are with you... Love Kelly's cousin Tara
ReplyDeleteShe is so precious. We are thinking of you all and keeping you and baby Brooklyn in our prayers! BIG HUGS Erin, Joey, Colleen and Kileigh
ReplyDeleteLove the cute pink hat!
ReplyDeleteCracking up at your comment. Hilarious. Praying daily for Brooklyn!
ReplyDelete-Meredith Barnhart